THE “I AM” SERIES
I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE
JOHN 6:35
Introduction:
Jesus had fed the multitudes with barley bread, the coarsest and least valuable form of bread. Its nutritional value was of little worth and inadequate, but the men were satisfied. It is amazing to me how men are satisfied with such low quality when they could have the best. Jesus is the Bread of Life, but men continue to want the Barley loaves.
I. “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE.” v. 35, 48
A. Israel was given Manna in the wilderness, Exodus 16:15, “And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.”
B. They called it “manna” or “What is it?”
1. Man continues in his ignorance not recognizing God’s blessings in his life.
2. He continues to refuse to admit that God is still to One that gives us all that we have.
C. They refuse to admit that Jesus is “THE BREAD OF LIFE.”
1. Israel ate manna in the wilderness and they are dead, John 6:49, “Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.”
2. Those that partake of the Bread of Life will live forever, v. 47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
II. “I AM THE LIVING BREAD THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN.” v. 51.
A. The Jews recognized Jesus as a mere man, v. 42, “And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?”
B. They never recognized Jesus as the Son of God of in flesh, John 1:1-3, 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
1. The Jews rejected Him, John 1:11, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”
2. But those that received Him became sons of God, John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
III. “I AM THE LIVING BREAD…” v. 51
A. If you eat this bread, you will live forever, v. 51, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
1. Matthew Henry said, “To live for ever is not to be for ever (the damned in hell shall be for ever, the soul of man was made for an endless state), but to be happy for ever.”
2. The Son of Man will welcome all of those who come to Him, v. 37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
B. You have to identify with Jesus Christ for your sins to be forgiven, vs. 53-54, “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
1. In the OT the sinner had to identify himself with his SIN offering, Leviticus 1:4, “And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.”
2. In our time the Ultimate Sacrifice was Jesus Christ, but we still have to identify ourselves with Him by trusting Him as our Savior, Romans 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
CONCLUSION:
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” He invites you to come and partake of the bread that gives eternal life. Would you trust him as your Savior today?
Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”